m 


O UX\  <2-  1-Ol  l\~ 


Co  rr\  m cs.  r\T  o-J 

.-ri  £ Vw'  *” 

an  A.  Vvy  e--S,W\ 


Missouri  State  Fair 


Reprint  of  the 

Disinterested  Comment 

of 

Agricultural  and  Live- 

SIogK  Journals. 

Published  Outside 
of  Missouri  on  the 

First  Exhibition, 

The  Fair  of  1901. 


The  St.  Louis  Republic,  Sept.  12,  1901. 

“I  congratulate  you  that  despite  adverse  conditions  this 
great  enterprise  is  opened  with  so  large  a concourse  of  people 
and  under  circumstances  which  promise  more  in  the  future. 

"I  congratulate  you,  as  we  inaugurate  this  great  enter- 
prise. that  Missouri  will  continue  to  do  her  share  to  promote 
it.”— (From  Gov.  A.  M.  Dockery’s  speech  on  opening  of  the 
Fair.) 


Sedalia,  Missouri. 


Missouri  State  Fair. 


Nornian  J.  Golit|ar|*  Pres,  N.H\  Gentry,  Vice-Pres-  J.  •?.  Itippey,  Sec, 

Second  flrnnUa!  Fair,  Sept.  8 to  83,  8902. 


Repent  of  the 

Disinterested  Gornment 

of — 

Agricultural  and  Live-StoGK  Journals 

Published  outside  of  Missouri  on  the 

First  Exhibition,  the  Fair  of  1901. 


The  St.  Louis  Republic,  Sept.  12,  1901. 

“1  congratulate  you  that  despite  adverse  conditions  this  great  enterprise  is  opened 
with  so  large  a concourse  of  people  and  under  circumstances  which  promise  more  in  the 
future. 

“I  congratulate  you  as  we  inaugurate  this  great  enterprise,  that  Missouri  will  continue  to 
do  her  share  to  promote  it  ’’ — (From  Gov.  A.  M.  Dockery’s  speech  on  the  opening  of  the 
Fair.) 


Sedalia,  Missouri. 


S.  M-  HODGES  A BRO., 
PRINTERS  AND  BINDERS, 
SEDALIA,  MO. 


Jtn 


Example 


St.  Louis  Republic.* 

All  Missouri  takes  pride  in  the  announcement  from 
Sedalia  concerning  the  financial  returns  of  the  State  fair. 
According  to  the  statement  of  the  board,  about  $1,000 
remains  in  the  treasury  after  all  bills  are  paid.  This  is  a 
surplus  that  speaks  well  for  the  management  of  the 
enterprise. 

The  time  has  passed  when  managers  of  a fair  count  upon 
a deficit.  No  exhibition  of  products  can  be  counted  a success 
unless  a reasonable  degree  of  financial  prosperity  attends  its 
management.  Experience  proves  that  this  prosperity  is  in- 
evitably attendant  on  the  wealth  of  the  display  and  strict 
business  principles.  In  its  own  particular  field  the  Missouri 
State  fair  has  surpassed  former  efforts.  The  entertainment 
deserved  .support  and  consequent  success.  The  coming 
World’s  fair  will  in  its  larger  field  do  as  well  if  present  indi- 
cations are  to  be  taken  as  evidence. 

*With  the  exception  of  the  above  editorial  from  the  St.  Louis  Republic,  all  the  articles 
printed  in  this  pamphlet  were  taken  from  disinterested  agricultural  and  live  stock  papers 
published  outside  of  Missouri.  A great  majority  of  the  country  and  city  papers  in  the  state 
have  spoken  favorably  of  the  first  State  Fair,  and  not  a single  criticism  has  been  made 
against  this  institution  in  any  newspaper. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/reprintofdisinteOOmiss 


SHEEP  PAVILION  AT  THE  NEW  MISSOURI  STATE  FAIR,  SEDALIA, 


Jal3 


fourth  *Dai/  of  97/issouriJ  s Sreat  ait TJhe  Jfferefoi  cl 

Show — Schoes  of  2/esterday’  s festivities — 
Additional  Awards. 


Drovers  Journal,  Chicago,  111.,  Sept.  12,  1901. 


Before  I say  anjThing  about  the  features  of  today,  I 
want  to  tell  the  Drover’s  Journal  readers  of  the  brilliant 
climax  of  yesterday’s  entertainment.  The  people  will 
remember  it  for  years  to  come  as  a red-letter  event  in  the 
history  of  the  State  of  Missouri.  That  this  lusty  youngster 
among  State  fairs,  which  was  born  on  the  9th,  could 
arouse  such  unbounded  enthusiasm  was,  a surprise,  even  to 
the  most  sanguine. 

There  comes  a time  in  the  life  of  every  individual,  every 
community,  every  State,  every  nation,  when  great  responsi- 
bilities arise  and  must  be  met  and  discharged,  and  they  should 
be  discharged  without  regard  to  cost.  One  of  the  responsi- 
bilities of  the  Missouri  people  is  to  show  to  one  another,  as 
well  as  to  the  world,  what  she  is  doing  in  the  line  of  live 
stock  and  agriculture;  another  is  to  aid  the  promoters  of 
the  Lousiana  purchase  exposition  in  building  and  launching 
a World’s  Fair  in  all  the  term  implies.  Missouri  can  no 
longer  afford  to  remain  passive  in  these  matters.  She  has 
won  75  per  cent  of  the  prizes  on  live  stock  and  products  of 
her  soil  at  the  great  Fairs  and  Expositions  for  the  past 
quarter-century,  and,  strange  to  say,  she  has  delayed  launch- 
ing a regularly  organized  State  fair  until  the  present  time. 
This  institution,  though  now  an  infant,  will  grow  and 
prosper,  and  will  place  Missouri  where  she  belongs  in  the 
great  galaxy  of  States. 

Yesterday  Sedalia  had  for  its  honored  guests  a delega- 


—6— 


tion  of  St.  Louis  World’s  Fair  directors  and  Hon.  A.  M. 
Dockery,  governor  of  Missouri,  and  his  staff.  The  presence 
of  these  distinguished  visitors  was  the  means  of  drawing 
15,000  people  to  the  fair  grounds  to  hear  the  speeches  of 
Gov.  Dockery,  Ex-Mayor  Walbridge  of  St.  Louis  and  others 
and  to  see  the  fine  displays  of  live  stock,  agriculture,  poul- 
try, horticulture  and  art. 


Closing  Scene — Tj/ie  Cattle  ZParade — Hereford  Awards. 


Drovers  Journal,  Chicago,  111.,  Sept.  13.  1901. 


This  is  the  closing  day  of  the  first  Missouri  State  fair. 
The  five  days’  entertainment  was  a success  in  every  way, 
and  the  Missourians  of  the  present  will  tell  their  grand- 
children of  the  future  about  the  birth  of  this  institution. 
The  birth  of  an  heir  to  the  throne  of  Russia  would  not  be 
welcomed  with  greater  delight  than  the  birth  of  the  Mis- 
souri State  fair  was  welcomed  by  the  Missouri  people. 
This  is  the  last  day,  and  we  say  farewell  until  another  year, 
when  this  youngster  will  have  grown  to  a fullfledged  State 
fair,  equal  in  size  and  magnitude  to  its  brothers  in  the 
other  states.  There  is  a peculiar  feeling  connected  with  a 
farewell  of  this  kind.  When  one  leaves  his  business  for  a 
brief  vacation  at  some  popular  resort  he  makes  new  friend- 
ships, learns  more  of  his  people,  and  enjoys  to  the  fullest 
extent  the  relaxation  from  business  cares.  When  he  leaves 
his  newly  made  friends  the3^  have  become  as  one  big  family, 


> 


CATTLE  BARNS  AT  THE  MISSOURI  STATE  FAIR. 


— 7— 


and  there  is  a kind  of  “all  gone”  feeling  in  his  stomach  and 
a pressure  on  his  chest  which  indicates  his  emotion  and  re- 
gret by  reason  of  the  parting.  This  is  the  way  I feel  today, 
and  I am  sure  that  there  are  many  who  share  the  feeling 
with  me. 

Each  and  every  anniversary  of  the  Missouri  State  fair 
will  be  an  improvement  over  its  predecessor.  The  officers 
and  directors  of  the  association  are  men  of  means  and 
affluence,  who  are  not  content  with  today,  but  will  strive 
to  make  tomorrow  better.  They  will  avoid  the  mistakes  of 
today  in  their  plans  and  work  of  tomorrow.  Their  fair 
this  year  was  the  work  of  only  a few  weeks,  yet  the  amount 
of  work  accomplished  in  the  time  allotted  was  phenomenal. 
It  is  an  indication  of  what  we  may  expect  in  the  future. 

97/issouri  Jfiolcis  dts  ifirst  State  ifiair. 

TTfanagement  Overcomes  77/ any  Difficulties — fDuildinya 
jtfre  77/odern  and  of  a ^Permanent  Character. 


The  Twentieth  Century  Farmer,  Omaha,  Neb. 

As  the  income  received  is  the  proper  basis  upon  which  to 
estimate  the  value  of  an  estate,  so  the  products  exhibited  are 
the  just  basis  upon  which  to  estimate  the  true  worth  of  a 
state  at  a State  fair.  Taking  this  as  a basis,  Missouri  ranks 
high  among  the  states  as  a producer  of  agricultural  and 
stock  products,  It  is  a remarkable  fact  that  at  all  the  lead- 
ing fairs  held  so  far,  which  include  Iowa,  Minnesota  and 
Nebraska,  as  well  as  the  fair  just  held  at  Sedalia,  Missouri 
furnished  nearly  all  the  prize  winners  in  Herefords  and  fully 
half  of  the  Shorthorns.  The  exhibit  of  swine  was  also  well 


— 8— 


up  to  the  top.  As  a horse  breeding  state  it  is  not  far  along, 
but  as  a breeding  ground  for  mules  it  outstrips  all  compe- 
titors. The  fact  that  such  splendid  stock  can  be  reared  on 
Missouri  soil  makes  it  a self  evident  truth  that  the  state 
must  produce  the  agricultural  products  to  feed  and  develop 
that  kind  of  stock. 

We  call  attention  to  these  facts  for  the  purpose  of  coun- 
teracting an}r  misconception  of  the  true  condition,  which 
might  have  resulted  through  a visit  at  the  State  fair  of  Mis- 
souri, where  the  agricultural  display  was  not  such  as  to  im- 
press itself  favorably  upon  one  who  was  not  acquainted  with 
the  circumstances.  It  is  probable  that  no  state  in  the 
drouth-stricken  region  had  less  rain  this  }rear  than  Missouri, 
and  the  fact  that  they  had  anything  in  the  way  of  products 
to  bring  speaks  well  for  its  resources. 

While  there  have  been  many  fairs  held  in  Missouri,  at 
St,  Louis  and  other  points,  this  was  the  first  real  State  fair 
ever  held  in  Missouri.  Ninety  da}rs  before  the  fair  opened 
the  ground  was  a bare  field.  When  the  gates  were  opened 
to  receive  the  visitors  one  of  the  neatest  and  most  pictur- 
esque fair  grounds  in  the  West  met  the  e}re,  The  manage- 
ment worked  on  the  plan  that  everything  built  should  be  of 
the  best,  and  every  building  erected  bears  testimony  of  the 
up-to-date  policy  of  the  management.  .They  are  constructed 
in  the  most  modern  style,  well  lighted,  and  well  ventilated. 
A better  idea  of  their  plan  of  construction  may  be  had  from 
the  illustration  which  is  given  on  this  page  from  a photo- 
graph by  a special  artist  of  the  ^Twentieth  Century  Farmer. 

The  whole  attendance  for  the  five  days  was  about 
50,000.  Rain  on  Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  kept 
many  from  attending,  who  otherwise  would  have  come,  but 

*This  plate  was  too  large  for  publication  in  this  pamphlet. 


— 9— 


Thursday  was  a big  day  and  the  grounds  were  well  filled. 
The  races  were  good  and  the  track  one  of  the  best  and 
fastest  in  the  West. 


Missouri  State  3 air. 

Kansas  Farmer,  Topeka,  Kan. 

Last  week  Missouri  held  her  first  State  fair,  conducted 
by  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  the  officers  of  which  are 
Norman  J.  Colman,  president;  N.  H.  Gentry,  vice-president; 
C.  W.  McAninch,  treasurer;  and  J.  R.  Rippey,  secretary. 

These  officials  have  labored  under  difficulties  that  seemed 
almost  impossible  to  surmount.  They  were  limited  in  the 
State’s  appropriation  to  $50,000.  With  this  limited 
amount  of  money  and  only  five  months  time  in  which  to 
complete  all  arrangements,  the)'  have  accomplished  results 
that  are  gratifying  in  the  extreme.  Just  one  hundred  and 
fifty  days  ago  the  present  fair  ground  site  was  a bleak 
prairie  located  about  one  and  one  half  miles  southwest  of' 
Sedalia.  Today  this  tract  of  land  containing  120  acres 
looks  like  a small  city.  Substantial  frame  buildings,  light, 
airy  and  commodious,  have  been  erected  for  the  accomoda- 
tion of  live  stock  departments,  and  for  the  agricultural  and 
art  exhibits.  A mile  race  track  said  to  be  the  best  in  Mis- 
souri and  possibly  in  the  west,  is  one  of  the  chief  attractions. 
Eleven  large  barns  have  been  built  on  the  east  side  of  the 
race  track  for  the  accomodation  of  trotters  and  runners. 
The  only  feature  that  could  be  criticized  in  the  least  is  the 
amphitheatre  at  the  track.  This  is  not  enclosed  and  is  only 
a temporary  structure.  The  time  was  too  short  to  permit 


—10 


the  erection  of  a permanent  amphitheatre,  though  tons 
upon  tons  of  the  steel  structural  material  are  lying  at  one 
side.  The  temporal  arrangement,  however,  is  a worthy 
make-shift,  and  no  one  should  complain. 

The  arrangements  for  caring  for  and  showing  the  live 
stock  are  the  best  provided  by  any  State  fair.  A large  two- 
story  barn  with  the  pens  conveniently  arranged  have  been 
provided  for  the  hogs  and  sheep.  The  animals  will  be 
shown  in  a splendid  show  ring,  surrounded  by  tier  upon 
tier  of  seats,  located  in  the  center  of  the  building.  Hog  and 
sheep  exhibitors  are  extremely  well  pleased,  and  congratu- 
late the  fair  management  on  their  work.  There  are  two 
large  barns  for  the  cattle  departments;  one  for  the  beef 
breeds  and  the  other  for  the  dairy  cattle.  The  large  show 
tent*  for  the  cattle  was  erected  recently.  It  is  large  and 
roomy  and  much  like  the  tent  used  in  Kansas  City  last  Fall. 

In  so  far  as  they  have  gone  in  the  way  of  buildings,  they 
are  modern  in  all  respects  and  of  a permanent  character. 
No  state  in  the  west  has  a better  class  of  buildings,  and  the 
management  certainly  deserve  congratulations  for  the  suc- 
cess achieved  this  year.  Owing  to  a limited  amount  of 
advertising  and  a rainy  week  the  attendance  did  not  reach 
the  100,000  mark,  but  a better  conducted  fair  has  not  been 
held  this  year. 

While  the  show  of  agricultural  and  horticultural 
products  was  not  large,  it  was  considered  a creditable 
state  display  for  a drouthv  year.  The  principal  attraction 
at  this  fair  was  the  live  stock  display,  and  the  principal 
exhibits  and  awards  are  given  herewith. 

*Owing  to  lack  of  cover  and  space  it  was  necessary  to  use  three  large  tents  on  the 
grounds,  and  two  of  the  hoi se  barns  were  temporarily  used  for  agricultural,  horticultural, 
mineral,  textile  and  art  exhibits. 


STABLING  FOR  RACK  HORSES  AT  THE  MISSOURI  STATE  FAIR. 


—11— 


7Jhe  Missouri  State  J’air. 

Live  Stock  Indicator,  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Beginning  with  insufficient  money  and  time,  and  work- 
ing against  the  odds  of  a most  unfavorable  season,  the 
officers  of  Missouri’s  first  State  Fair  achieved  what 
might  have  well  been  considered  impossible.  When  exhibit- 
ors and  visitors  began  to  arrive  on  the  new  grounds  at 
Sedalia  they  found  improvements  that  older  organizations 
have  been  years  in  making  and  have  not  equalled.  What  in 
the  Spring  was  a bare  quarter  section  of  prairie  lying  in  the 
angle  between  the  Missouri  Pacific  and  the  Missouri,  Kan- 
sas and  Texas  railroads  was,  with  the  exception  of  a race 
track  ampitheatre  (which  had  to  be  abandoned  on  account 
of  the  steel  strike)  an  admirably  equipped  exposition  ground. 
A hog  and  sheep  pavilion,  said  to  be  the  finest  in  the  west, 
six  equally  good  horse  and  cattle  barns,  all  of  uniform  style 
of  architecture,  and  a mile  race  track,  pronounced  fast  by 
horsemen,  and  proven  so  by  the  first  race  trotted  on  it,  were 
th  prominent  features  of  improvement.  The  ampitheatre 
planned  was  to  have  been  a modern  stnicture  of  steel.  In 
lieu  of  it  a frame  “grand  stand”  was  built  that  accomodat- 
ed the  crowd  yeiy  comfortabl\\  The  grounds  were  reached 
from  the  city  conveniently  by  special  trains,  alternating  on 
the  two  railroads,  thus  running  about  15  minutes  apart. 
Lack  of  funds  for  advertising  purposes  kept  the  association 
from  enjoying  the  attendance  its  efforts  deserved,  but  a good 
start  was  made,  and  it  only  needs  time  for  the  news  to 
spread  to  assure  the  fair  for  its  second  year  the  success  its 
management  so  richly  deserves.  Space  will  not  allow  a de- 
tailed report  of  exhibits  in  many  classes  but  in  fruit  and 


—12 


live  stock  (at  any  time  Missouri’s  “main  hold”)  the  quality 
was  high.  Another  year  buildings  will  be  provided  for 
showing  the  mineral,  industrial  and  manufacturing  re- 
sources of  the  state. 


Missouri’s  ifirst  State  J^air. 

One  of  the  jCeading  Shows  of  the  Western  Circuit 

in  ^Prospect. 


Breeders’  Gazette,  Chicago,  111. 

“In  Old  Missouri”  they  finally  have  a State  fair.  This 
is  the  fruition  of  years  of  ardent  hope,  of  patient  earnest 
effort.  Those  most  active  in  this  endeavor,  those  most 
loyal  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State,  have  lived  to 
go  up  and  possess  the  promised  land.  Every  inch  of  the 
ground  which  these  broad-gauged  indomitable  leaders  have 
covered  on  their  way  to  this  goal  has  been  stubbornly  con- 
tested. Every  step  has  been  opposed.  Unmoved  by  the 
brilliant  example  of  other  states,  untouched  by  the  appeals 
of  the  agriculturists  and  stock  breeders  who  are  developing 
the  wealth  of  natural  resources  of  this  great  state,  men  in 
public  places  have  fought  bitterly  the  proposition  to  estab- 
lish an  annual  central  exposition  of  the  agricultural  great- 
ness of  the  State.  It  is  not  pleasant  thus  to  write  the 
history  of  this  enterprise,  but  it  is  to  the  credit  of  the  per- 
sistent advocates  of  a Missouri  State  fair  that  they  have 
finally  triumphed  over  all  such  Bourbon  opposition,  and 
now  behold  at  Sedalia  the  foundation  of  a fair  that  is  un- 
doubtedly destined  to  attain  an  importance  and  dignity 


—13 


wholly  adequate  to  this  grand  state  of  wooded  bluegrass 
pastures,  and  broad  and  fertile  fields. 

The  waning  glories  of  the  erstwhile  “Great  St.  Louis 
Fair”  made  almost  imperative  such  an  institution  as  a 
State  fair,  under  the  auspices  of  the  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture. The  very  existence  of  the  St.  Louis  exhibition, 
famous  for  }rears  as  an  inter-state  battle-ground,  doubtless 
militated  much  against  the  growth  of  sentiment  in  favor 
of  a State  fair,  but  those  who  knew  the  decadence  of  that 
institution  and  understood  how  little  it  now  serves  as  an 
exposition  of  the  agricultural  and  live  stock  possibilities  of 
the  State  were  keenl}"  alive  to  the  necessity  of  a fair  that 
would  exemplify  State  pride  and  spirit,  and  draw  out  an- 
nually unimpeachable  evidences  of  the  unsurpassed  richness 
of  this  commonwealth  in  the  products  of  its  soil  and  herds. 
Those  uninformed  need  only  to  consult  the  list  of  exhibitors 
of  pedigreed  live  stock  during  the  past  decade  to  learn  how 
eminent  is  the  position  of  this  state  in  the  propagation  of 
the  improved  breeds  of  live  stock,  and  one  has  only  to  look 
to  the  two  great  markets,  maintained  on  each  border  of  the 
state,  to  realize  how  materially  the  prosperity  of  its  agricul- 
tural population  is  wrapped  up  in  the  making  of  meats. 
No  state  is  more  singularly  favored  in  natural  agricultural 
advantages  than  Missouri.  No  state  grows  greater  corn, 
no  commonwealth  can  boast  of  richer  blue  grass  grazing 
lands.  Added  to  this  a population  whose  leaders  inherit  a 
love  for  live  stock  and  a genius  in  the  moulding  of  the 
animal  form,  and  we  have  the  secret  of  the  commanding 
success  attained  in  the  pursuit  of  stock  farming  in  this  nat- 
urally-gifted state. 

It  was  written  by  the  fates  that  this  state  should  at 


14- 


last  awake  and  build  an  imposing  monument  to  its  agricul- 
tural fatness.  The  widely  disseminated  but  unorganized 
sentiment  in  favor  of  such  a movement  finally  crystalized  in 
the  official  action  of  Missouri  Live  Stock  Breeders’ Association 
which  has  been  gradually  growing  in  power  and  influence, 
and  in  January  of  1899  the  Legislature  was  asked  to  sanction 
the  establishment  of  a Missouri  State  fair.  Opposition  bit- 
ter and  even  virulent  quickly  developed,  but  it  was  swept 
aside  by  the  determined  advocates  of  the  measure  both  in 
and  out  of  the  general  assembly  and  the  Missouri  State 
Fair  assumed  legislative  form.  The  State  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture was  made  sponsor  for  it  and  into  the  hands  of  an  execu- 
tive committee  of  five,  elected  by  the  Board,  the  entire  con- 
trol of  the  fair  was  given.  This  committee  includes  N.  J. 
Colman,  St.  Louis,  president;  N.  H.  Gentry,  Sedalia,  vice- 
president;  Alexander  Maitland,  Richmond;  J.  A.  Potts,  Mex- 
ico; and  Thomas  B.  North,  Gray’s  Summit.  J.  R.  Rippey  is 
secretary  and  C.  W.  McAninch  is  treasurer.  A measure  en- 
titled the  “Horse  Breeders  Bill”,  which  licensed  the  selling  of 
pools  on  race  tracks  in  the  state  took  its  place  on  the  stat- 
ute books,  and  the  fair  was  given  the  proceeds  from  such 
licenses,  amounting  in  1899  and  1900  to  $17,000.  The  leg- 
islature of  1901  appropriated  the  insignificant  sum  of  $50,- 
000  for  laying  the  foundation  of  the  equipment  of  the  fair 
grounds,  and  this  sum  was  secured  only  after  a determined 
effort.  The  proceeds  of  the  horse  breeders’  bill  for  the  next 
two  years  also  fall  to  the  fair  fund,  not  however  in  excess 
of  $25,000.  Thus  picayunish  was  the  legislature. 

Not  so  many  cities  as  claimed  the  illustrious  Homer 
dead  offered  a site  for  the  fair,  but  five  Missouri  municipali- 
ties entered  into  a spirited  contest  for  the  honor  of  the  loca- 


WHERE  THE  JACKS  ARE  STABLED  AT  SEDALIA. 


—15— 


tion  of  this  institution.  Sedalia  finally  won — a town  ofl5,- 
000  people,  lying  in  almost  the  exact  center  of  the  state  from 
north  to  south  but  two-thirds  of  the  way  toward  its  west- 
ern border,  and  onl}T  three  hours  from  Kansas  City.  The 
richness  of  the  surrounding  country,  the  accessibility  of  the 
town,  the  enterprise  of  its  citizens  united  to  win  the  fight. 
One  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  lying  within  one  and 
one-half  miles  of  the  court  house  as  the  crow  flies,  was  pre- 
sented free  to  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  as  the  home  of 
the  fair  and  the  city  water  works  system  was  extended  to 
supply  free  water  perpetually.  The  electric  wires  will  be  run 
to  the  grounds  to  furnish  not  only  light  but  power,  and  the 
trolly  track  will  be  extended  to  the  grounds.  Transporta- 
tion facilities  are  now  as  perfect  as  could  be  devised,  and  the 
trolley  will  in  time  spoil  all.  The  main  line  of  the  Missouri, 
Kansas  & Texas  railroad  skirts  the  grounds  on  its  diagonal 
way  northeast  to  southwest  across  the  state  while  the  main 
line  of  the  Missouri  Pacific,  linking  St.  Louis  with  Kansas 
City,  needed  only  a spur  of  less  than  a quarter  of  a mile  to 
land  passengers  at  the  gates  of  the  fair.  Both  roads  are 
keenly  alive  to  the  situation.  The  “Katy”  has  built  an  un- 
loading platform  365  feet  long  for  stock  and  other  carried 
exhibits,  and  the  Missouri  Pacific  has  constructed  one  near- 
er as  long.  These  will  be  extended  as  necessity  requires. 
Both  roads  have  built  covered  terminals  and  alternately 
run  frequent  trains  from  the  same  station  in  the  city,  thus 
affording  the  perfection  of  service  for  the  transportation  of 
large  crowds. 

We  confess  to  keen  disappointment  on  first  view  of  the 
ground.  A treeless  tract  for  the  home  of  the  fair  seems  sad- 
ly out  of  consonance  with  this  state  of  grand  oaks  and  elms. 


16— 


Of  coarse  construction  can  proceed  more  readily  and  cheaply 
when  growing  timber  does  not  interfere,  and  after  all  it  is 
chiefly  a matter  of  sentiment,  but  the  suggestions  of  senti- 
ment do  not  readily  yield  to  more  sordid  considerations. 
Knowing  the  limited  funds  at  the  disposition  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  one  would  not  expect  more  than  a hint  at 
the  equipment  which  it  is  hoped  will  one  day  make  this  fair 
famous  among  like  institutions  of  its  sister  states,  but  it  is 
a source  of  gratification  to  note  that  whatever  has  been  ac- 
complished has  been  well  done.  It  is  unfortunate  that  the  to- 
pography of  the  ground  was  so  unfavorable  that  more  than 
$20,000  was  expended  in  building  the  race  track,  the  filled- 
in  grade  on  the  first  turn  being  so  great  that  the  reckless 
driver  who  hubs  the  rail  stands  chance  of  landing  a distance 
of  25  feet  below.  This  expenditure  does  not  include  the  grand 
stand,  the  steel  work  for  which  was  not  delivered  in  time 
to  allow  of  its  erection  for  use  last  week.  This  stand  wall  be 
put  up  in  sections  and  gradually  enlarged  as  the  demand  in- 
dicates and  funds  permit. 

The  most  imposing  structure  on  the  grounds  at  present 
is  the  sheep  barn,  a splendid  example  of  the  fair  building  in 
its  best  estate,  planned  with  a view  to  capacity,  light,  ven- 
tilation and  convenience.  It  is  nearly  200  feet  square,  with 
500  pens,  and  in  the  center  of  it  is  the  show  arena  50  feet 
square,  with  raised  seats  for  1,200.  The  cost  of  this  struc- 
ture was  $12,000.  This  year  it  sheltered  both  sheep  and 
swine,  but  the  plans  contemplate  a twin  structure  for  swine, 
situated  so  close  to  the  railway  that  exhibitors  can  drive 
their  pigs  from  the  cars  into  the  pens  and  thus  be  spared 
the  hard  and  heavy  work  of  carting  crated  exhibits.  Of 
tasteful  design  and  pleasing  appearance,  as  is  shown  plainly 


HORSE  BARN  NOW  USED  FOR  GENERAL  EXHIBITS  AT  MISSOURI  STATK  FAIR 


—19— 


as  possible  to  meet  the  present  emergency.  They  do  not 
disguise  the  fact  that  all  loss  cannot  be  recouped  in  a single 
favorable  season,  but  they  trim  their  sails  to  the  breezes 
that  now  blow  and  go  forward  with  faith  in  the  future. 

That  such  a calamity  should  come  in  conjunction  with 
the  christening  of  a great  State  fair  seems  peculiarly  un- 
fortunate. That  it  should  fail  to  affect  the  exhibits  and  the 
attendance  was  not  possible.  But  that  the  long  delayed 
rain,  the  rain  that  had  been  prayed  for  should  withhold  its 
coming  until  fair  week  seemed  taxing  the  patience  of  a suf- 
fering people  to  the  extremest  limit.  Rain  and  the  threat 
of  storm  kept  thousands  from  the  fair  grounds  at  Sedalia. 
The  drouth  and  the  fear  that  accomodations  might  not  suffice 
turned  not  a few  exhibits  from  its  doors.  Thus  inauspici- 
ously  was  the  Missouri  State  fair  opened.  But  a beginning 
was  made,  a firm  foundation  was  laid.  Missouri  agricul- 
turists are  now  put  upon  their  metal.  They  must  choose 
between  success  and  failure  of  a state  institution.  State 
pride  is  touched.  The  men  in  charge  of  this  fair  have  build- 
ed  wisely  and  well.  At  unknown  sacrifice  of  personal  in- 
terests they  have  labored  loyally  for  the  success  of  this 
newly  established  institution  and  have  a right  to  expect 
stout  support  from  those  whose  interests  they  have  cham- 
pioned. Money  is  needed;  sentiment  must  be  created  and 
sustained.  Let  every  Missourian  do  his  duty  to  this  State 
Fair. 


